6 comments:

Very interesting. I've always wondered for myself internet gaming, or gaming in general could be classified medically and scientifically as an addiction. However I also agree with the article on how the gaming addiction is merely a behavioral symptom, the real root of the problem may be anxiety, fear, or depression. Who knows? I'm not psychology major, but I wonder, if games are used as methods and ways to cope with anxiety and stress, could they be used in a way that benefits people, yet doesn't lead to game addiction?

When I talk about how I used to play WoW (and I PLAYED, man, big time) I always refer to it in drug references. The period during the latter part of High School is commonly referred to as my "relapse" period. It was far and above worse than my first foray into the drug. It also kept me away from friends and family for hours, days, on end. Sheila can attest, WoW steals a life. It's a drug. A DRUG.

I actually had a nice comparison between two of my friends last year; one played an absurd amount of video games while the other was a smoker. I was amazed how similar their way of dealing with it was. Both knew they had to stop, and neither could. Both would give it up, truly believe they were rid of their problems, and relapse within a week. It controlled their emotions so similarly, and I know video games aren't chemically addicting, but they reacted the same way. But then the gamer's XBox broke, and that was the end of his problems. So, moral of the story, we could solve smoking if we broke all the cigarettes...? Well, it was worth a try.

I have always assumed that gaming addiction was a real thing and that some people, like Chad says above, really do struggle with it. However, after being in class the other day when this topic came up, I re-evaluated my stance on it. I think that it is very easy to say that people get addicted to video games, but, as someone pointed out in class, no one ever brings up people's addictions to books, or drawing, or, in my case, theater. It is because video games have had such a bad connotation for such a long time that we are led to believe that prolonged activity on them is addicting and bad. Well, I for one can't help but act and audition for shows. Does that make me addicted to theater? It's an incomplete argument, but where does the line get drawn? Am I addicted if my constant presence in theater is becoming detrimental to my health? Sorry that I made that a bit about me, but I'm trying to empathize.

#13 I agree with you Nick, it is an incomplete argument. As I said in class, I think it depends not only on what you claim to be addicted to, but what this activity or 'drug' is taking you away from. For you Nick, theater has become your life. Acting is your dream, the difference is its a healthy one to have and can lead to great things, even a lucrative career. Of course, there are some people who play so much video games that they too earn a job doing what they love, but for many this is not the case. I've known two guys throughout my college career that slipped into this gaming addiction and lost sight of the important things that were going on in their lives, such as school, and not wasting their PARENT'S money paying for it. But honestly, I think some people are just more susceptible to addictions. Video games get a bad rap because of how fun and immersive they can be, thus attracting these types of people who need something to distract them from their boring, uneventful, day to day lives. Everything in moderation, that's my motto.